Race, Work, and Leadership: New Perspectives on the Black Experience

by Laura Morgan Roberts (Editor), Anthony J. Mayo (Editor), David A. Thomas (Editor)

Rethinking How to Build Inclusive Organizations

Race, Work, and Leadership is a rare and important compilation of essays that examines how race matters in people’s experience of work and leadership. What does it mean to be Black in corporate America today? How are racial dynamics in organizations changing? How do we build inclusive organizations?

Inspired by and developed in conjunction with the research and programming for Harvard Business School’s commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the HBS African American Student Union, this groundbreaking book shines new light on these and other timely questions and illuminates the present-day dynamics of race in the workplace. Contributions from top scholars, researchers, and practitioners in leadership, organizational behavior, psychology, sociology, and education test the relevance of long-held assumptions and reconsider the research approaches and interventions needed to understand and advance African Americans in work settings and leadership roles.

Race, Work, and Leadership will stimulate new scholarship and dialogue on the organizational and leadership challenges of African Americans and become the indispensable reference for anyone committed to understanding, studying, and acting on the challenges facing leaders who are building inclusive organizations.

Genres: Leadership, Nonfiction, Business, Education, Race, Anti Racist

512 pages, Hardcover

Published September 3, 2019

Reviews

[Valyncia Raphael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using various critical theories/frameworks, this edited volume is chock full of information that identifies barriers and solutions for advancing Black employees and leadership. The chapters provide research on individual and structural fixes and provides practical solutions to go beyond managing blackness for the business case of diversity. The clear ultimate premise is to enacting authentic equity and social justice in the workplace. CDOs, mid-level managers/supervisors, and executive leaders should read this (and form book groups) if they are ready and committed to walk the talk with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sorry to admit this, but I just skimmed. So much to take in. And not that the information is at all out of date, but it's just incredible to think how culture has changed (and perhaps opened up so many more conversations) since 2019.

[Paul Deveaux · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a highly academic book that presents nothing that is revelatory or surprising in terms of race in the workplace. Additionally the book spends far too much time explaining research methods and sources, and devotes no space to actually talking about solutions. Not worth the time.

[LaQuetta Glaze · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to find a book that examines the experience and perspective of black leaders in today’s America that explored the research aspect of this topic. This book met all of my expectations on the subject of organizational and leadership challenges of black people. This book will serve as a reference guide for my current and future studies concerning leadership. I highly recommend this book for those who are “committed to understanding, studying, and acting on the challenges facing leaders who are building inclusive organizations.” I read this book via hard copy and audible.

[Steve Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a Best of the Best for the month of September, 2019, as selected by Stevo's Book Reviews on the Internet / Stevo's Nobel Ideas. You can find me at http://forums.delphiforums.com/stevo1, on my Stevo's Novel Ideas Amazon Influencer page (https://www.amazon.com/shop/stevo4747) or search for me on Google for many more reviews and recommendations.

[Dolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume is one to read cover to cover and then have on your shelf as a resource. The table of contents alone is fascinating, demonstrating the range of topics and disciplinary perspectives the book contains. The contributors are all leading scholars in their fields. There is plenty of data and evidence and yet, the book is accessible for a broad range of readers. Strongly recommend.